Cleave

Pronunciation: /kliːv/

Definitions of cleave

verb to split or sever something, especially along a natural line or grain

Example Sentences

A1 She used a knife to cleave the fruit in half.

A2 The lumberjack cleaved the log with one swift swing of his axe.

B1 The chef carefully cleaved the chicken breast to prepare it for cooking.

B2 The karate master can cleave a wooden board in half with his bare hands.

C1 The diamond cutter can cleave a rough diamond into perfectly shaped gems.

C2 The surgeon must cleave the tissue precisely during the delicate procedure.

Examples of cleave in a Sentence

formal The chef used a sharp knife to cleave the meat into perfectly even slices.

informal I watched in amazement as the lumberjack cleaved through the tree with one swift swing.

slang I can't believe she cleaved her ex-boyfriend's belongings in half after they broke up.

figurative Despite facing many challenges, their friendship continued to cleave through any obstacles in their way.

Grammatical Forms of cleave

• past tense: cleaved
• plural: cleaves
• comparative: cleaver
• superlative: cleavest
• present tense: cleave
• future tense: will cleave
• perfect tense: have cleaved
• continuous tense: is cleaving
• singular: cleaver
• positive degree: cleave
• infinitive: to cleave
• gerund: cleaving
• participle: cleaved

Origin and Evolution of cleave

First Known Use: 1250 year

Language of Origin: Old English

Story behind the word: The word 'cleave' comes from Old English 'clēofan' which means to split or divide.

Evolution of the word: Originally, 'cleave' had two opposite meanings: to split apart and to stick together. Over time, the latter meaning became less common and 'cleave' is now mostly used to mean to split or divide.